Cruentus - Fossilized (Review)

Cruentus was formed in Norrköping, Sweden, in 1998. Though being an old band, Cruentus is quite unheard of, maybe owing to the fact of their inactivity for many years. The band made a comeback in 2020, releasing a full-length album. Now consisting of Martin Öhman on Guitars, Bass and vocals, and Petter Bocian on drums and vocals, the band is back with their sophomore release "Fossilized", to be out on July 15th via Kvlt und Kaos Productions.

Cruentus gives us a taste of Swedish Death Metal mixed with Black and Death Metal. The instrumental intro track "Ascending" gives us a brief hint of where the album is headed, and with no time wasted we bleed into "The Catalyst". The innovative riffs with the Scandinavian "Chainsaw tone" along with a dominating groove will remind you of Bloodbath and Entombed. Tracks like "The Last Ones" and "Mot Alltets Slut" are great Death-Thrash tunes with blackened touch to them. "Nihil Ultra" and "Primordial Reprizal" also have moments where the band incorporates doom metal influences.

Where the first half of the album was much inclined towards the Swedish Death Metal domain, the second half showcases much of Black Metal influence. "Prey" can be easily termed as a BM track, had it not been for the thrashy drums beneath it. With more passing time, the disarray and mayhem start to play. "Relentless Scourge" and "Averted Reality" can be best described as obscure, dark, and doomy tracks with a lot of chaos and unpredictability.

The cut-throat razor-sharp approach to riffs aided by the classic Swedish Death Metal tone makes the song-structure tight and precise. Ten tracks for an album might feel overwhelming, but Cruentus does know how to keep things compact and dense since almost all tracks are around the five-minute mark. Also, the incorporation of dynamic changes really accounts for a captivating listening experience, without which the album would have been monotonous. There is a raw, lively, and old-school quality captured within the mix, that certainly reminds us of the late 90s era of death metal. Both Martin Öhman and Petter Bocian lend their dry and rusty vocals. Mostly high screams, the vocals fit perfectly the vibe of the record. The only underwhelming aspect for me is the fade-out placed on every track, which feels like a rushed ending and jarring at times. 

Honestly, it would be pointless to describe them on the basis of genre. Cruentus shows how to work with facets of various genres, and to do justice to the final product. "Fossilized" is an enjoyable record and is suggested for lovers of Death/Black Metal fans.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Website: Cruentus Facebook

Genre: Blackened Death/ Black Metal

Label: Kvlt und Kaos Productions

Worldwide Release: July 15th, 2022